Furniture-caster



(Mode1.)

J. T OLER.

FURNITURE (FASTER.

No. 389,341. Patented Sept. 11, 1888.

wwamiov (1611/1151 0' [191 334; @Mozmxg- I ilNiTnn STATES PATENT @rrrcs.

JOHN TOLER, OF NE\VARK, NE\V JERSEY.

FURNlTURE-CASTER.

. SPECIFICATIO'N forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,341, datedSeptember 11, 1888.

Application filed May .21, 1888. Serial No. 274,609. (Model),

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ToLEn, a citizen of the United States, residingat Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Furniture-Casters; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of casters constructed of a fixedframe and revolving wheel-table with small rollers interposed betweenthem to diminish friction; and it has for its object to secure moreequal bearing and less friction than with this class ofcastersheretofore made, and one that can be constructed more simply and at lesscost; and the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements ofparts, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finallyembodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters ofreference represent similar parts in the various figures, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a caster embodying my improvements. Fig. 2is a frontelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the caster with thebearing-plate removed. Fig. l is a sectional View through line Fig. 5 isa reduced plan view of the bearing-plate. Fig. 6 is an elevation of oneof the segments seen in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a reduced side elevationshowing a modificationin the construction and arrangement of thebearing-plate, and Fig. Sis a modified form of the segment.

In said drawings, A. A represent ordinary caster-wheels, pivoted to arevolving bracketplate, B.

O is a bearing-plate or screwplate with shoulder 0, provided with scrcwholes a a, Fig. 5.

D is a pivot pin or spindle rigidly secured to bracket-plate B, andarranged to turn in the socket in bearing-plate O. This pivot-pin has ashoulder to bear against plate 0 in such manner that the bearing andbracket plates will be held together and allow the bracketplate andspindle to revolve.

c 0 represent an annular rectangular groove on the under side of theplate 0 and near its edge; and d (I represent a corresponding annularrectangular groove on the upper side of plate B and near its edge, asshown in Fig. 4.

e 6, Figs. 3 and t, are friction rollers or wheels vertically arrangedand moving in the grooves above referred to, and held in an uprightposition by the sides of the grooves.

ff are segments located and moving in said grooves, and so arranged thatone of said seg ments should be located between each two of the rollers.These segments move in the annular grooves in conjunction with thefrictionrollers, and. are designed for and serve the purpose of keepingthe rollers or wheels con tinuously separated and distant from eachother the length of the separator, and these segments can be made of anydesired length according to the number of rollers or wheels intended tobe used in the grooves. These segments are of a less height than thediameter of the rollers or wheels, so that tl1e bearing-plate will notrest on them when in position.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modified form of these segments wherein theends are forked, as at 9, so as to present the ends of the fork to arounded ball, Ii, which can be used in place of wheels, if desired.

In plate B an opening, 1', is made to allow the admission of ascrew-driver to the screw holes in plate 0. In Fig. 7 I have shown another mode of securing the casters to the article of furniture. Thebearing-plate is made larger than the braeket-plate, so as to form aflange large enough to allow screw-holes outside of the outer edge ofthe bracket-plate.

\Vhen a caster of my improved construction is applied to an article offurniture, piano, or anything desired, the weight is evenly divided overthe whole of the bearing-plate, because the rollers or wheels upon whichthe bearingplate rests are always the same distance apart and eachreceive an equal amount or proportion of the superincumbent weight.Moreover, by this construction and arrangement of the bearing wheels orrollers the strain upon the spindle is reduced to a very small degree.

For pianos and all heavy articles I prefer to use casters with twowheels, as shown in the drawings, as they aid in equalizing the pressure upon the caster.

I am aware that anti-friction rollers or disks have been employed incasters running in annular grooves; but such devices are objection able,as the rollers or disks ero wd together and run against each other,increasing in this way the friction.

I am also aware that anti-friction balls have been used in a caster witha skeleton frame to keep them in position, and this skeleton framerevolved with the caster and also greatly increased the friction andresistance.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is As animproved article of manufacture, a furniture-caster consisting of one ormore caster-wheels, a revolving bracket-plate, a

have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of 25 May, 1888.

JOHN TOLER. Witnesses:

OLIVER DRAKE, E. L. SHUMAN.

